The enormous popularity of pickleball is just one compelling reason to take up the sport. Another great reason: it’s an easy sport to play competitively (or not!) with your partner. I was invited to the Fairgrounds Racket Club Leaside location with my hunky man to try to figure out this whole tiny tennis thing. We are both seasoned hockey players but don’t even understand the basic rules of pickleball. Kitchen? If you say so!
Luckily, passionate pickleball pros are on hand to help out. All Fairgrounds clubs are public; the vibe is welcoming no matter your level of expertise. New to the sport or not, there is always space for you at this club.
Dink Dink Drink: Passion for the Pickle(ball) at Fairgrounds Racket Club Leaside
While we both play hockey, we definitely don’t play together. I play in an all-women’s league, with the occasional male goalie thrown into the mix. Mike, on the other hand, played for years with an entire sausage squad. I just don’t need a 250-pound dude barreling toward me at the blue line. Pickleball, however, lends itself a little better to playing together. You’re not exactly going to feel it when a pickleball comes at you full speed. A puck, on the other hand? That’s a very different story.
The rules are straightforward. According to Pickleball Canada, you usually play to 11 points. The winning team must win by two points, or play continues until one team wins by 2. In tournament play, games can be played to 15 or 21.
All you really need is light, comfortable clothing and a pair of indoor running shoes. Fairgrounds Racket Club Leaside has rackets for rent and all the balls you need. While it is technically a club, it’s completely free to join.
Chances Are There Is a Local Fairgrounds Near You
- Leaside: 11 pickleball + 4 padel = 15 courts
- Cloverdale: 14 pickleball courts (currently closed for renovations, reopening October 2026)
- Ottawa / Bells Corners: 7 pickleball courts
- Capilano: 15 pickleball courts
- Bower Place (Red Deer): 14 pickleball courts
- Taunton Gardens (Whitby): 5 pickleball courts
- Cataraqui Centre (Kingston): 10 pickleball courts
Padel courts are also available. Padel is played on a bigger, enclosed space and is also gaining popularity among pickleballers.
🥒🏓 Leaside Rates: Pickleball $60/hour ($15/person for four); Padel $100/hour ($25/person for four). It’s free to join; however, those are pay-per-play rates. There are memberships available, and lessons with a pro are a great way to make the most of your game.
Equipment rental is $5 for a pickleball paddle and $7 for a padel racket.
More Than Just Pickleballs at This Club
Set inside the old Mercedes dealership on Eglinton, the space feels dynamic and purposeful, and not just for pickleball. There is a distinct community vibe here. Giant comfy couches, big-screen televisions, and a snack bar keep players lingering. That’s the framework of these clubs; maybe you’re not up for joining a league, but bouncing a ball back and forth is a lot more fun than sitting silently in a movie theatre.
Join Canadian tennis legends at Fairgrounds Racket Club Leaside for the Daniel Nestor Pickleball Social in support of motionball and Canadian Special Olympic athletes. This special event takes place on Friday, October 16th. Sign up your team at motionball.com
Thank you, Fairgrounds, for hosting. Find out more at visitfairgrounds.com and follow @visitfairgrounds
All images by Libby Roach.